A Quench-Coal, Inquiry 2 · Part 3
The third Authority.
The third, is that of Odo Bishop of Paris in a Synode about the yeare of our Lord 1206. (Bochellus Decreta Ecclesiae Gal. l. 4. Tit. 1. c. 81, p. 558.) Summa reverentia & honor maximus sacris Altaribus exhibeatur, & maximè ubi sacro sanctum corpus Domini reservatur, & Missa celebratur.
A very probable Authority for this Ceremonie:
To which I answer:
First, that there is not one word in this Injunction concerning bowing to or towards the Altar: And reverence, and great honour might be given to it, in such manner as it is given to Churches, Fonts, Pulpits, Bibles, and the like, not by bowing to or towards them, but by a reverend use and estimation of them free from superstition on the one hand; And prophonesse on the other. So as this Authority in truth proves nothing.
Secondly, admit it meant of bowing to Altars, yet it is to be given only to sacred cons…crated Alta…s, not to others; But few or none of our Altars, not one of our Lords … ables have yet been so solemnely consecrated, (the reason why Papists refuse to bow to them.) … it makes … for any genu…lectio…, …, or Tables.
Thirdly, this honour and reverence is … to be given to those Altars only whe…c the body of Christ is a wayes … pix, and Masse celebrated: And th… (say … Papists in their private discourses: … of the … 46….) is th…t … reason why th…y bow … cause Christs bo…y, is they imagine, …s the … as they bow not at all to or towards the body of Christ reserved on it.
But our Altars, for ought I yet know …, have no body of … on them. Therefore they are not yet to be bowed unto or reveren…ed, by vertue of … likewise ordaines, that … which l. 4. Tit. 1. c. 8…. p. 558. Which our Bishops urge with much vigour.
As for the Synod of … An. 1583. though it decree many things concerning Altars, (as that*Therefore all of them stood not Easterly at the upper end of the Chancle. none shall stand under the Organs, Pulpit, or against the Piltars of the Church, or over against the High Altar, or neare the Church-dores, or any unfitting place: That there shall not be above 7 Altars in any Church: That all of them shall be of stone 7 handfuls and an halfe broade, and 8 handfuls long: That i… might have a faire Altar-cloth to cover it; That a Cisterne of water (See Bochellus Decreta Eccles. Gal. l. 3. Tit. c. 33. 34. p. 362.) with two or three towels neare it for the Preist to wash h…s hands: (defiled with their unholy holy Sacrifice of the Messe:) That every Altar, where the Bishop shall judge, it may conveniently be done, shall be rayled in with an Iron or stone rayle, or at least with a woodden on…, standing at least 7 hand-breathes distance from the Altar, within which rayle no Layman may enter whiles that Mas…e is celebrating: That every Altar have its proper Ornaments and decent furnature, as Altar-clothes, towels, a Crucifix in the mid lest, two Candlest…ckes at the least, one placed at the right hand, another at the left, which shall stand alvvayes on it, but especially on all Holy-dayes, unlesse the Bishop at some times shall otherwise order.
VVhichWhich Popish Constitution Bishop Wren with other of our Prelates and Novellers now follow to an haires breadth: though I say this Counsell decreed all this and more, yet there is not a syllable in it concerning bowing to the Altar; Therefore it seemes to be a thi…g of no great request, even among the Papists, who bow only to the Hostia on it, (B…sh… M… tons I…stitution of the Sacram: p. 463.) not to the Altar it selfe or towards it.
These I suppose are the prime Authorities that can be produced by any for bowing to Altars; And all these if duely weighed are nothing, at least to sway with any Protestant or syncere Christian.
As for bowing to or towards the Lords Table, (which I have proved not to be an Altar, nor yet to be of right so styled, but only the Lords Table, as even in times of superstation it hath been st…ed; Cent. Magd. Cent. 8. Col. 677. Cent. 9: Col. 243. Nic…ph: G…eg. f. 10. Bishop Mortons Institution of the Sacram…nt, p. 303.) there is not one syllable in all my reading, nor I thinke in any man else to be found.
If any demaund now of me, how I prove, that the primitive Ch…rch and Coristia is bowed not to Altars & Lords Tables, and therefore we ought not now to doe it?
I answer, that I can manifest it sundrie wayes:
1. Because I finde no such thing either in the Fat…e…s or Ecclesiasticall Historians, where all the Rights, and Ceremonies used in the Primitive Church, are accurately sett downe and a… scribed, (See Cent Magd. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. cap. 6. de Ceremoni…s & Ritibus Eccles.) so as this of all other had it been a thing of that moment, and so much practised as some now fable) would not have been passed over in s…nce by them.
2. Because the Primitive Church and Chr…stians for 260 yeares after Christ or more, had no Altars at all among them, as I have else where proved; Therefore no bowing to Altars; And to Tables we never read that any bowed, no not in times of Popery, when they so farre disdained Lords-Tables that they contemptuously styled them Prophane Tables and Oysterboards. Acts & Monum. Edit. ult. pars 3. p. 85. 95. 497.
3. Because the Christians in the Primitive Church for many hundred yeares after Christ prohibited all Christian… to bow their knees or kneel on any Lordsday, and from Easter till Whitson-tide on any weekeday, in honour of Christs resurection, holding it an offence and sinne so to doe even in the act of prayer and adoration it selfe; As, Tertullians vvords in his Booke De Corona Militis, witnesseth; Die Dominica jejunium nefas ducimus, vel de geniculis adorare.
And these subsequent Authorities doe likewise manifest it; Iustin Martyr. Quaest. 115. Tertullian ad uxorem. Hierom Advers: Luceforianos de Ecclesiasticis observationibus: c. 29. Radulphus Tungrenfis de Canonum observantia. Proposit. 23. p. 458. A. Concil: Nicaenum Can. 20. Carthag. 6. Can. 20. Constantinop. 6. Can. 90. Turonense sub Carolo Magno Can. 37. Gratian de Consecratione Dist. 3. Origen Homil. 4. in Num. Cyprian Centur in Orat: Domini. Centur. Magd. 3. c. 6. col. 135.
If then the Primitive Christians prayed and worshipped standing and deem…d it a sinne to kneel either in prayer or any other act of adoration or worship on those dayes, the cheife time of the… Christian and publicke assembles, especially for receiving the Sacrament of the Lords Supper. Ivo Carnot…ses Decretal. Pars 1. c. 25. 34.
It is certaine therefore, that they used not in their Assemblies to bow their bodies or knees to or towards High Altars or Lords Tables… & as certain that they kneeled not at the Sacrament, much lesse bovved their he…ds or knees at the naming of Iesus, as some ignorant shallovv-pated Novellers now pretend and give out, without proofe or shaddovv of truth…
4. Because the Fathers condemned, as Idolatry, all b…wing to or towards Images, or Idols, all worshipping … God, in, by, through, or towards them; Holding div… … and adoration, a thing peculiar to God alone, … immediately to God himselfe, without any such … …elpes of Images or Altars, condemning all relative w…rship, as derogatory to his Majesty: See the Homily of the … of Idolatrie: Bishop Ushers answer to the Iesuites Challenge of Images and praying to Saints.
Therefore this vvorsh…pping and adoring of God, in, by, through and towards the Altar and Communion-Table, is a thing utterly cōdemned by them, & to be detested of all, which would have hardned the Gentiles in their Idolatrie, for which cause they suffered no Images in their Churches, and carefully (Tertulliani Apologia) wiped of these Cauils of … Pagans, who s…ndered them with the worshipping of the Rising Sunne, the Crosse, an Asses head, and the like; Concluding and prot…sting, that adoration and worship was due to God alone, and that immediately.
5. Because, they reputed Christ only the true Altar, the only Altar in …eaven which they adored, all other Altars were Iewish or Pagan reliques, abolished by Christs death, which had no Authority to warrant them in the Scripture; Eusebius Eccles. Hist. l. 10. c. 4. See Bishop Mortons Institution of the Sacramēt, Edit. 2. p. 415. 418. 461. 462. Therefore unfitt to be bowed to or towards, or to be the objects of any relative worship, as most now make this their bowing. Upon all which grounds, I conceive, I may safely assirm…, (at least till our Novellers shall be able to prove the contrary) that the Primitive Church and Christians, never used to bow to Altars or Lords Tables, and that there are no Fathers nor Antiquities to just…fy this usage.
In the Discription of the election of Maximilian to be King of the Romanes in the month of Ianuary, An. 1486. Rerum Germanicarum Scriptores Tom. 3. p. 22. 23. 24. 28. 29. 30. 32.
I …, that … E…perour in the Cathedrall Church at F…ankf…d … for him to sit in; Ad Altaris …; A th… South-side of the Altar, where the Gosple is usually read, higher then the other seates, just over against the Altar; That the Arch-bishop of Mentz, the Duke of Bavar…, the Count Palatine of Rhene, Maximilian Arch-Duke of Austria, and the Duke of Burgundie sate on his left hand; The Arch bishop of Colen, the Duke of Saxonie, and the Marqu…sse of Brandenburge on the left hand; And the Arch-bishop of Treuier neither on the right hand … the left, but just before the Kings face, before the Altar. On the same side of the Quire sate divers other Bishoppes. On the North-side of the Altar sate many Bishops, Earles, Dukes, and Nobles.
All which in order went and offered at the Altar. After which the King came and received his Crowne at the High Altar. Masse being ended, the Princes Elect…urs went to the Altar to sweare, according to the tenour of the golden Bull.
At last Maximilian, led by the Arch-bishops of Mentz & Colen, was lifted up upon the Altar, and TE DEUM sung & played on the Organes. CIRCA ALTARE about the Altar, at the sides, by the exalted King, stood the Arch-bishop of Colen and Mentz, and before his face stood the Arch-bishop of Treuier, the other Princes accompaning and standing about them.
By which it is evident the High Altar at Frankford at the time of this Coronation stood not Altarwise, against the East-wall of the Quire, for the King sitting on the South-side of it, just over against the Altar, and these 5 great Princes sitting in distinct seates at his right hand in state, the Altar was at least 5 seates distance from the East-wall, and stood so, that the Arch-bishops, Princes and Nobles when the Emperour was eleuated on it, stood round about it, and him, at the time of this royall solemnity.
The Heathen Altars likewise stood not against the East-wall of the Quire, as appeares by Paulus in Curculione: Nur… Ara veneris haec est ANTE horum fores. Ovid. Motamorph. l. 10. Ante fores horum stabat Iovis hospitis Ara. Iulius Caesar Bullingerus de Theatro l. 1. c. 22. p. 256. Latini Comae…i Aram in PROSCENIO CONSTITUUNT in Apolonis honorem, &c. Vide ibid.
So that the placing of Altars against the East-wall, is but a late Novelty, even among the Papists themselves, and so likewise this bowing to or towards the Altar; For J finde no mention of it in the exact Discription of this Solemnity.
Only I read, that when Maximilian was crowned at Aken the 31. day of March following, they went into the Quire to the High Altar, and there heard Masse. Then the 3. day of April he offered at the Altar of the Virgin Mary. That after some Hymnes sung, and collects reade in the Quire: Rex prostravit se super tapetum ad gradus Altaris totus in longum: The King prosttated himselfe at the steps of the Altar upon a Carpet, lying all along upon it. And the Arch-Bishop of Colen, super …um sic proctratum legit, reads over him thus prostrate, Lord save the King, with other two Collects. (Erge, we must thus prostrate our selves when we come in … of the Church, is no good argument it being a Ceremony … for the King at his Coronation, not to others, and a … not to or towards the Altars, but at the steps of it, to have an Arch-Bishop read a prayer over him, and some speciall ….) After which he sate downe in a Royall Seate before, the Altar, the Arch-Bishop of Mentz sitting on his right hand, and Treuier on the left; Then these Bishops tooke of the Kings upper garment, and leading him between them, ante Altare prostratu…in modum Crucis, he prostrated himselfe in forme of a Crosse before the Altar, the Arch-bishop of Colen saying divers prayers (there specified) over him, and the Letanie. The Letanie ended, the Arch-Bishop of Colen, standing before the Altar, with his Pastorall staffe in his hand, asked of the King six Questions, the last whereof was this; Wilt thou reverently exhibite due subjection and faith to the most holy Father and Lord in Christ the Pope of Rome, & to the holy Church of Rome? (The Popes were anciently sworne to the Emperour, and elected by him, now they must sweare to the Pope, and be chosen by him and his three. Arch-Bishop Electours, who are still at his devotion. See Gratian Distinctio. 69. and Dr. Crakenthorpe of the Popes temporall Monarchie, cap. 1. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.) After which Questions he was ledde by the Arch-Bishops of Mentz and Trevler to the Altar, and putting two of the fingers of his right hand on the Altar; Sayd, I will, and J shall faithfully performe all the premises as farre as God by his divine assistance shall enable me, and the prayers of faithfull Christians shall assist me: So helpe me God and all his Saints.
Which done, these Bishoppes brought him backe before the Altar. After that they leade him againe to the Altar, qui prostravit se ad terram in longum, and then the Arch-bishop of Colen reade a blessing and prayer or two over him; Which done, they annoynted him in severall places; And … returning before the Altar, casting himselfe downe in manner of a Crosse, the Arch-B…shop of Colen reade other prayers over him. Then they girt him with a sword; After that, they set the Crowne on his head with severall Collects; then leading them againe to the Altar, he layd both his hands on the Altar, and made this profession among other things in the vulgar tongue; (Which in truth made him a s…ave both to the Pope and Prelates, rather then a King:) I will yeeld due and Canonicall honour to the holy Bishop and Church of Rome, and to the other Bish…ps and Churches: These things likewise which have been given & conferred by Kings and Emperours to churches or Ecclesiasticall persons, I will inviolably preserve and cause to be preserved by them, the Lord Iesus Christ assisting me.
By which oath and practise the Emperours and Kings of the Romanes are made Vass…les to the Pope and Prelates, their hands being thereby tyed from the invading any of their exorbitant usurped Priviledges or pos…ssions; A he…sh policy worthy observation. Anno Dum. 1518. Jacobi Manti… Cardi…alat us. Alberti Epise: Mogunt: Rerum Germ: Scriptores. Tom. 2. p. 399.
VVhen Albertus Arch. Bishop of M…ntz was made a Cardinall; he tame up to the High Altar, and there kneeling downe before it on both his knees, the Popes Legate graced him with a red hats, the badge of this h…s dignity which he put upon his head: He kneeling downe before the Altar till the song of S. Augustins and S. Ambrose was sung.
So An…o 1066. Ho…eden Annql: pars prior p. 447. J reade, that King Herro…d, at the celebration of the Masse at Westminster; Ante Altare in Oratione prostratus jaceret, lay prostrate before the Altar in prayer.
VVhen our King Richard the first was to be crowned (Houeden Annal: pars poster…or: p. 656. 657. 739.) he came tothe Altar before the Arch-Bishops, Bishops, Clergie, and People, and kneeling downe on his knees before the Altar, tooke the usuall Coronation-oath, upon the Euangeli…ts and … After which, … in the Arch-Bishop an … And taking the Crowne from the Altar, put it … his …and. So at his second Coronation, he was ledde into the Cathedrall Church of S. Swithim at VVinchester …, even unto the Altar, & ibi flexis genubus, and … with bended knees, devoutly received a benediction from Hubert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, and from thence was ladde to his Throne.
I reade also, that Hugh Abbot of Cluney, and Hilde… whiles he was an Arch-Deacon riding together, en… into a Country-Church, Ante Aram injunctis, lateribus … in multam horam protracta Oratione; Cast themselves downe before the Altar one by the others side, and there prayed along time. Ma…me…rie de Gestis Regum Angl: lib. …. p. 10….
Thus the Monkes of Glastenbury (when their Abbot …ine fel… at variance with them, and chased them with … men into …he Church) sancto Altari miserius fuas appl… …, Bewayled th…is mise…ies, to witt, at the holy Altar, where the Abbot slew two, and wounded foureteen of them; Yea the Abbot himselfe with a speare (sayth Houeden, Annal: pars prior, p. 456. 460.) thrust one of the Monkes, through the body, and slew him, Sacrum Amplexar… Alt…, imbracing the holy Altar in his armes; Alium ad Altaris crepidinem sagit…is Confossum necauit.
But that any of these Kings, Prelates, or Monkes bowed their bodies to or towards the Altar at their entring in, passing by or repairing to the Altar, or coming in, or going out of the Church, as we doe now, I finde not one syllable in these Histories which certainly would not have pretermi…ted it, had it been then in common use.
Indeed, I read in Aeneas Picalomineus, Cardinall of Sens, (Europes status sub Frederico tertio Imp. c. 19. 63.) that Vla. … King of Poland after his conversion from Paganisme to …ristianity; In…er equitandum quotiescunque turres Ecclesiarum inspe…t, detracto pileo, caput in…linavit; Deum (qui coleretur in Ecclesia) veneratus: When he did ride abrode, as oft as he beheld the Towers, …he pulled of his hat, and bowed his head, worshipping God, who is adored in the Church: But that he did thus, when he saw the Altar or …rds-Table, I find not, had he used any such Ceremony, this Cardinall doubtlesse would have recorded the one as well as the other.
If our Altar-worshippers will presse or imitate his example, then they must bow and worship towards our Churches-steeples, when they see them, (for which they may have some colour from Davids worshipping, Psal. 5. 7. Psal. 138. 2. and Daniels praying towards the Temple, Dan. 6. 10.) not towards the Altar or Table.
Now, most of our Churches towers and steeples stind, either at the west end or in the middest of the Churches, few or none of them at the Eist-end, quite opposi…e to their Altars and Tables situation; This president therefore will manifestly overthrow their bowing to, and worshipping towards the Altar, and the East, which they now so much contest for.
As for these mentioned prostrations, and kneelings downe at or before the Altar only to pray, or to receive a Crowne or Cardinals hat, without any relation to the Altars, as they were for these speciall ends and purposes, not out of any respect to the Altar; So they warrant not our genuflexion or inclination of our bodies towards, or to the Altar or Table, upon reasons drawne from the Altar or Table, or for other purposes, and upon other occasions then these.
Besides, this kneeling and prostration of theirs was only at and before consecrated Altars, not at or before Lords Tables or unhallowed Altars.
But few of our High Altars are yet solemnely dedicated by our Prelates, neither can they, unlesse they be removed further from the wall, the Bishop being to goe 7 times about the Altar, when he consecrates it; As I have proved out of Durandus, Rat: Divinarum, l. 1.
And admitt they are thus hallowed, yet being consecrated not by a power derived immediately from the Pope of Rome, but by such as are yet counted Schismati…kes by him, (though Bishop White in his Epistle Dedicatorie to his late Treatise of the Sabbath, be very angrie with those…, who repute, or st…y… us Schismaticks from the Roman Church at this day, because most, but those whom he there styles Puritanes, `Presb…te…ians, &c. are perfectly reconciled to it,) they are so …arre from being adored and bowed to, that the Papists and Popi… ly affected (the only men who are likely to how to or towards them) will thinke them fitter to be demolished:
For Anno 1177, in the Councell of Venice, under Pope Alexander, where the three Anti-Popes, Victor, Paschall, and … were degraded; (See Houeden Annal: pars posterior pag. 568…) It was decreed among other things: That all the Altars dedicated by those Anti-Popes, or their Ordinaries, should be demolisheds; Which was done accordingly: Yea Christian Arch-Bishop of Mentz, burnt his Bull, with his owne hands received from Pope Paschall, in the presence of Pope Alexander, receiving a new Bull from him.
So Geeffry Plantaginet Arch-Bishop of Yorke (See Houeden Annal: pars posterior p. 713.) overturned all the Altars, brake all the Chalices, that Hugh Bishop of Durham had celebrated at or used, or any other Preist in his presence, after his excommunication by him.
Our High Altars therefore, by the same reason, being not consecrated at all, or at least by Schismatickes or Excommunicate persons (if not by the sentence of the Church of Rome, yet by the expresse determination of the 12 Canon 1603. (which together with the stature of 1. Eliz. c. 2. condemnes the consecrating of, & bowing to Altars by necessary consequence, with all other our late Innovation, excommunicating all those ips… facto, that neither prescribe or submitt duplicate page duplicate page unto …hem,) are rather to be broken dovvne, removed, abolished, as they were both in King Edw. the 6. & Queen Elizabeths dayes, then they bowed to, or adored; Since as Gulielmus Sturkius observes (Antiquit Co…vinalium, l. 2. 6. 16. P. 209.) Christ, Apostplorum, & primitivae Ecclesiae exemplo magis videntur quadrare mensae, quam Altaria: Verissimis illis impletis (ait) legalibusi, & peracto in cruce sacrificio per Christum, earn hic rationem Eccl…siae, quamolim Synagogae instituit. Mensam dedit in qua epuletur, non autem in qua offeretur victima: Nec Sac…rdos consecravit, qui offerent sacrific…rentque, sed Ministrosdedit, quiepul…m sacrum distribuer…. Arae, fixae, & statuae, pecudibus mactandis, & ignibus fo…end is magis sont Idoneae. Christum in Mensa sacrosanctum suum conviu…um primò instituis…e, accum charis…nis suis discipulis celebras…e, Evangelica historia testatur. Hanc Mensa… auro purissimo coopertam, atque infinitis propemodum ge…mis ornatam, ex Taletio occupatàm, Musem Ara…um D…cem se…um reportasse …estatur Leo Affcicanus, l. 5. c. 79. Jn pri…itiva quoque Ecclesia mensarum in celebratione Coenae Dominicaeusum, cum alium literarum monumenta, tum il…a Nicenae Synodi verba testantur. Jn divina MENSA ne …umiliter intenti simus, ad propositum panem, &c.
Thus Sturkius who at large pieades for the use and conveniency of religious and pious Dis…ourses, conferences, the reading and talking of Scripture and divine things at Feasts and Christian Assemblies, both from the Example of Christ, the Fathers, and Heathen Philosophers, Antiqu: Convivalium, l. 3. c. 1…. fol. 382. 383.
In direct opposition to Bishops Wrens new Visitation-Articles to the contrary. Whom I desire his worship, and all those prophane ones of his opinion, to reade at their best leasure, together with his other notable passages against the pr… phanation of the Lords day; by Feasting, Dancing. Ales, Revels, … and other pastimes, (Epist. Dedicat: Antiqu: Connival: l. 1. c. 16. fol. 36. c. 23. fol. 67. c. 25. fol. 74. 75. c. 33. f. 133. to 138. and l. 3. c. 2l. 22.) so much contested for now of late; All which the primitive Christians abandoned, as well as Altars.
But though these Novellers have neither Statute. Canon, Scripture, nor Antiquity for this new invented Ceremonie, yet doub…l…sse being reasonable creatures, they must have some reasons for it. True, they thi…ke they have so; But if their reasons be but examined, they are in truth meer lying … crackbrainde fantasies of their owne invention, not warranted by any Scripture, or registred in any Father, or Authour, no… known to Durandus, (See Rationale Divinorum ….) or Mirologus, (See De Divinis Offici…s l…b.) or any other Romanists, who have taken upon them to give a reason for every one of their Ceremonies, though never so superstitious or ridiculous.
If any desire to know their Reasons, they are these:
1. First, they say, they doe & must bow to or towards the High-Altar and Lords-Table, because it is the place of Christs speciall presence upon Earth, and his Chaire of estate wherein he …. See Giles Widdowes his Lawlesse kneelesse Schismaticall Puri…, p. …9. Shelfords Sermon of Gods house, p. 2. 4. 18. 19. 20. Reeve his Exposition of the Catechisme in the Common-Prayer-Booke, neare the end.
Which reason I have already proved falce. Only I shall demaund these few Questions of them:
I. QVESTION.
By what Scriptures or Fathers they can make good this proposition; That the High-Altar or Lords-Table is the speciall place of Gods presence upon Earth, and his Chaire of state, wherein …?
II. QVESTION.
What they meane by this speciall presence, whether his corporall, or his divine presence?
If his corporall, that implyes, first, a Transubstantiation of the Sacramentall bread and wine into the very body & bloud of Christ.
Secondly, a perpetuall reservation of the consecrated bread thus transubstantiated into Christs body on the Altar & Lords-Table, (else the reason holds not, but only at the time whē the Sacrament is administred, and the consecrated bread & wine is standing on the Table; And so they ought them only to bow to or towards the Altar; Not at other times when there is no Sacrament, (Bishop Mortons I…stitution of the Sacrament p: 463.) as now they doe.)
Thirdly, it implyeth, a denyall of the Scriptures and Articles of the Creed, which assure us, That Christ in his humane nature and corporall presence is wholy ass…nded into Heaven; That he hath quite lest the world, and is gone to his Father…; That he is sett downe at his Fathers owne right hand; That he is no more corporally present upon Earth; That he cannot be corporally in many places at once, and never was so that wee find in the Scripture; That the Heavens must containe him untill his second comming to judgement: And the like, Acts 3. 21. cap. 1. 10. 11. John 14. 2. 3. 19. c. 16. 28. c. 17. 11. 12. c. 13. 1. 1. Pet. 3. 22. Heb. 10. 12. cap. 12. 2.
And it is point-blancke against the Homilies, Articles, Writers and established doctrine of the Church of England, to which these Rebellious sonnes of Belial have subscribed.
If they meane only Christs Spirituall presence, that certainly is as much at the Font, the Pulpit, the Bible, the Common-Prayer-Booke, as on the Table, as much in the whole Church and Quire, as in all, or any of these standing in them; Yea much more in every pore Christians heart and soule the true Temples of God, wherein Christ and his spirit dwell by faith; Ephes… 3. 17. c. 2. 21. 1. Cor. 6. 19. 2. Cor. 13. 5. Gal. 2. 20.
Therefore if this reason hold firme they must bow alike to or towards all and every of these, as well, and as oft as to the Table or Altar.
III. QVESTION.
Admit the Preposition true, I would demaund of them, how they can prove this their assertion to be truely Orthodox; That men ought to bow and worship to and towards the place of Christs speciall presence? What Scripture, Councell, or Father hath taught them any such Doctrine? Certainely if this be good Divinity, then when ever they see the Pulpit, Bible, Font, Church, or any pious Saint of God though never so pore, they must for sooth bow … thē, because Christ is specially present in them, then they must no sooner looke up to Heaven, but they must bow their knees and bodies to it, for that is Gods Throne, Christs Chaire of Estate. indeed, and the place of their speciall residence, by the Scriptures expresse resolution: Yea then when ever they see the Paten or Chalice, which immediately containe the Bread and Wine, they must bow to them, because they are the place of Christs speciall presence, rather then the Table or Altar, on which those vessels which conteine the Sacrament only stand.
IV. QVESTION.
Jf this reason be folid, I would then demaund but this Question, whether Christ be not more immediately, really, and spiritually present (yea and corporally too, if they hold any such presence in the S…crament, as they seeme to doe,) in the Consecrated B…ead and Wine, then in the Chalice or Cup, or on the Table or Altar it sel…e? If so, (as all must necessarily graunt) then it will inevitably follow from this reason, that they must much more adore and bow to the consecrated bread and wine, then either to the Altar or Table.
If so, then I would demaund of them:
First, what is the reason they bow only to the Altar or Table, not to the consecrated bread ond wine? Or in case they answer that they bow to both; How their bowing to the bread and wine differs from the Papists adoration of them, which our Church condemnes as most grosse Idolatrie?
Secondly, What is the cause why they bow to the Altar or Table, before the bread and wine are consecrated, when Christ certainely is not there present, in that manner as they fansie, and yet bow not to the bread and wine after consecration, when Christ is specially present in them?
Thirdly, why many of them at the administration of the Sacrament, when as they have the bread and wine in their hands, bow downe to the ground almost, as they come from, passe by, or goe to the Table or Altar, out of their reverence and respect to the Table and Altar, and yet bow not at all to the consecrated bread and wine, which they hold then in their hands?
Fourthly, whether bowing to and towards the Altar or Table so frequently and devoutly (as they deeme it) when there is no Sacramentall bread and wine upon it, and at the time of the Sacrament, even when they hold the Sacrament in their h…nds, and their not bowing to or towards, and adoring of the Sacrament it selfe (which is farre more ho…ourable then either the Table or Altar, which serve only for its consecration and distribution, and may put them more immediately in mind of Christ) be not an advancing & a preferring of the Table & Altar, not only before the Pulpit, the Fōt, the Bible, the Common-prayer Booke, the Paten & the Chalice themselves, but likewise before the consecrated bread and wine, the Sacrament of Christs Supper, and the Lord Christ himselfe, to whome they give no such congies, such solemne adoration, reverence, genuflexion, honour and respect?
If so, then it is almost execrable and ab…minable; Jf not, then let them informe me; How that which is least bowed to, worshipped or adored, is most reverenced and respected, then that which is not bowed to or honoured with any such genuflection; Or how themselves can preach and …, that the name Iesus is more honourable, venerable, great and glorious then any other of our Saviours …ames, because it is and ought to be most cringed, capped and bowed to of all others? Till all these Quest…ons are resolved, J shall desire them to suspend this their capitall reason.